Tag Archives: stumble

The bible talks about envy but goes in-depth about a man of God who suffered through his envy of fools(book III psalms 73-89). This man of God gives example after example of wicked people who prosper and have no worries. He speaks about the many trials he faces daily and admits all the short comings he feels compared to the ungodly. He is attending a pity party of 3(me, myself & I). But in his conclusion, similar to his beginning statement, he acknowledges the good in his life and that is the presence of God. Envy has been one of man’s greatest downfalls since Cain and Abel. Superiority always arouses envy and Cain was envious of Abel not because he was a fool but because he did something Cain didn’t. Through his faith and pure heart, Abel provided a more pleasing offering to God. It was envy that drove Cain to murder his brother and then hide from God afterwards. Because Cain allowed his envy to control his actions he faced the most severe consequences that is a life without the presence of God. He was marked for his transgression.

Moment of truth: There have been some moments of envy in my life for both the wicked fools and, as hard as it is to admit, my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. The bible says only a fool envies another fool. There is no reason to envy what others may have whether they be a fool or a brother. When envying a fool what are we envying? Their bank accounts, their careers, their status in this world or their perfect life that doesn’t actually exist? Everyone is fighting a battle you may know nothing about. Furthermore, when we have feelings of envy towards a fellow brother or sister as Cain did Abel we risk taking the path of destruction. God loves His children and as shown through this story of brothers and envy we see what horrible consequences can come from such feelings when we feed into them.

We see two very clear examples of how envy can gain a foothold on our lives and destroy us if we don’t keep our eyes on the love of God that is ours through the acceptance of Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. When we compare the wicked’s prosperity with our suffering or even envy our fellow believer’s blessings we are not keeping the faith in the fact that God is good. No matter our circumstance, He is who HE is! If we allow envy to consume us there will be no more room for God. You can have everything you have ever wanted in this world but truly I tell you my friends that a life without God is not a life at all. Instead you have a span of mere coincidences and passing moments that will flee and never matter again. EVERYTHING with God matters. Personally I don’t want to live a life praying for better moments, better opportunities or even that God solve all my problems. I want to live a life thanking God for every second He has gifted me with, praying and lifting up others and just down right appreciating all the blessings I am sure I take for granted at least once a day.

Have you ever had a “should’ve had a V8 moment” and no it has nothing to do with the juice? What I mean is that I just had a moment where I wanted to smack myself in the forehead because of something I said. I am a mother of a very rambunctious toddler. She gets into everything, has tons of energy and rarely understands that no means no the first time. I love my daughter and therefore I discipline her when her actions call for it. She is a loving and sweet child but just like adults she has her days where she is snappy, shutting herself away from the world. On days like this I find myself telling her “Janessa, don’t be mean!”

Flash forward to just a moment ago, I am in my office having another work through lunch when a couple of coworkers walk past my desk. As I am eating I hear one of them ask what it is that I am eating. “Chicken Alfredo”, I said. With a snarky smirk on his face he says, “That doesn’t look anything like chicken alfredo!” He then proceeds to laugh with another coworker walking out the door. His reply should have been just that, HIS reply. Before I knew it my witty comeback urged its way out saying, “I don’t recall asking for your opinion!” Not sure if he heard me because as he was walking out he also muttered, “Smells good though.” Conviction radiated through me almost instantaneously.

The Holy Spirit’s conviction is beautiful like that.

So I reflected on the situation.Why is it that I felt the need to retaliate? I know I am not the best cook but I also know that this does not diminish my value as a woman, person and most importantly a child of God. So again, why did I let one small comment get to me so immensely that I felt the need to duplicate snarkyness and pay it forward?! In this moment I told myself out loud “Don’t be mean Janessa!” I have been so accustomed to telling my daughter this every time she behaved in a malicious way towards anyone that when I was correcting myself her name was automatically inserted. I could not help but laugh at first and then I thought. How many of us actually practice what we preach? There have been other times like this where I post on a certain subject and then fail a battle and I sit shaking my head at myself. We all make mistakes but it is God who uses these mistakes to teach us and others through us.

The world will tell you that vengeance is ours. Your flesh will call for you to give an eye for an eye but what does that do other than make the whole world blind? There are evil forces that want you to believe and act in this way so that in the future we will rely on ourselves for justice. This is a false concept. The one and only true justifier is God himself. There is a healthy fear we are to have for the Lord, a fear that He is almighty and if we give into evil we will perish. The cross has already won the war but there are still very real spiritual battles we must face each day. Great news is we do not have to face this battle alone. God is always by our side when we call on Him.

Sincerely,
4rm Partygirl to Praying Woman

“Though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand.”